Ignition boot hoppering and assembly device

ABSTRACT

Ignition boots are cascaded on parallel, downward sloping, oppositely rotating rollers to travel downward thereon under a rotating wheel with projections removing double tiered boots until stopped by an escapement. The escapement releases single boots which move under a pickup wheel having a plunger which thrusts down to enter the released boot, retracts and lifts the boot, and holds the boot between the jaws of a split nest after 180* rotation of the pickup wheel. A cylinder slides a cam forward to close the nest securing a boot therein after which the cylinder moves the cam and closed nest forward forcing the boot over the end of an ignition wire, the nest then opening and retracting completing the assembly.

United States Patent [191 Birkett 1 1 Apr. 30, 1974 IGNITION BOOT I-IOPPERING AND ASSEMBLY DEVICE [76] Inventor: Earl Birkett, c/o Birkett Automation Industries, Ltd, 151 Babylon Tnpk., Roosevelt, NY. 11575 [22] Filed: Dec. 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 311,098

[52] U.S. Cl 29/203 R [51] Int. Cl. H0lt 43/00 [58] Field of Search 29/203 D, 208 R, 203 R, 29/208 D, 235, 203 J, 203 P, 211 D, 211 R, 203 DT [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,965,147 12/1972 Hoffman 29/203 D X 3,402,452 9/1968 Mraz 29/203 D 3,570,097 3/1971 Bowden, Jr. et al 29/203 D Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or FirmPeter L. Tailer ABSTRACT Ignition boots are cascaded on parallel, downward sloping, oppositely rotating rollers to travel downward thereon under a rotating wheel with projections removing double tiered boots until stopped by an escapement. The escapement releases single boots which move under a pickup wheel having a plunger which thrusts down to enter the released boot, retracts and lifts the boot, and holds the boot between the jaws of a split nest after 180 rotation of the pickup wheel. A cylinder slides a cam forward to close the nest securing a boot therein after which the cylinder moves the cam and closed nest forward forcing the boot over the end of an ignition wire, the nest then opening and retracting completing the assembly.

4 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 30 19M 3.807.021

SHEET 1 [IF 3 mgm nmso 19M (807,021

sum 2 m s IGNITION BOOT HOPPERING AND ASSEMBLY DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The automatic hoppering of ignition boots and their assembly onto ignition wires is accomplished by the device of this invention. Heretofore, this has largely been a hand operation which has been difficult and costly.

The machine or device of this invention has a conveyor which drops a cascade of ignition boots, which are of rubber or the like, onto two parallel, downward sloping, counter rotating rollers. The rollers are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the rims of the boots with the hollow right angle boot extensions hanging between the rollers. A wheel with projections knocks improperly positioned boots, such as double tiered boots, from the rollers, excess boots falling into a bin to again be cascaded by the conveyor onto the rollers.

An escapement has two downward projecting stops which alternately rise and fall releasing a single boot to continue down the rollers. Each released boot falls through circumferential grooves in the rollers to rest in a jig which holds its rim.

A pickup wheel is disposed over the jig activated by a cylinder which reciprocates a rack gear driving the pickup wheel. On one stroke, the wheel remains at rest as its shaft and a cam rotate to extend a plunger downward entering a boot in the jig and then retracting to lift the boot. On the other stroke, the cam and the pickup wheel are locked by a rachet device to rotate together through 180 and move the boot between the jaws of a split nest. On the rotation of the pickup wheel, a contact plate rubs the rim of the boot to rotate it on its plunger and orient its projecting foot.

A second cylinder thrusts downward at an angle forcing a spring mounted cross bar against a stop to compress the spring and provide differential motion between a cam and the split nest, the cam closing the split nest about a boot held above the pickup wheel. A roller on the second cylinder moves forward to raise the end of the second cylinder and the split nest until the cross bar clears the stop. Further forward motion of the second cylinder moves the closed nest forward to thrust the boot therein over the end of an ignition wire held in jaws on a conveyor. Retraction of the second cylinder opens the jaws of the split nest releasing the boot and completing the assembly.

The device of this invention is fast and functions without failure in production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side view of the ignition boot assembly device of this invention with portions of a bin, a conveyor, and a frame broken away;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the roller drive;

FIG. 3 is a side view of an ignition boot;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the lower ends of broken away conveyor rollers;

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section through a pickup wheel;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the pickup wheel taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 9-12 are side views of broken away front ends of second cylinders and associated elements which activate a split nest, the views showing sequential steps during the forward motion of the second cylinder;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a split nest mounted in a carriage and having a cam mounted thereon;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a grooved track in a frame DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 3, an ignition boot 20, of rubber or the like, has an enlarged portion 21 with a rim 22. An extension 23 projects at right angles from the top of portion 21. An ignition boot covers the contact end of an ignition wire 24, such as that shown in FIG. 15. When installed in an automobile, the enlarged portion 21 covers the top of a spark plug with the ignition wire projecting from extension 23.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a bin 25 contains ignition boots 20 and any standard belt type or other conveyor 26 which cascades ignition boots 20 onto the upper ends of the parallel downward sloping parallel rollers 27 and 28. Referring additionally to FIG. 2, a motor 29 mounts pulley 30 which drives the large pulley 31 by means of belt 32. Pulley 31 is mounted on a shaft 33 which is an extension of roller 27. Meshing gears 34 and 35 mounted on rollers 27 and 28 behind support plate 36 enable roller 27 to drive roller 28. The top surfaces of the rollers move away from each other and rotate at about 500 r.p.m.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, ignition boots 20 land on the rollers 27 and 28 to be held therebetween by their rims 22. The counter rotation of the rollers 27 and 28 causes the boots to slide slowly down the inclined rollers 27 and 28. A motor driven wheel 37 mounted over the rollers 27 and 28 has projections 38 which knock double tiered or incorrectly held boots 20 back into bin 25. Wheel 37 as shown should rotate about 200 r.p.m.

As shown in FIG. 1, an escapement 39 has two slidably mounted downward projecting stops 40 and 41 connected by a pivotally mounted link 42 so that the retraction of stop 40 extends stop 41. Thus the activation of a pneumatic cylinder 43 extends stop 41 and retracts it while stop 40 retracts and extends to release only a single boot 20 to continue down the rollers 27 and 28.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lower ends of the rollers 27 and 28 contain the circumferential grooves 44 and 45 which release a boot 20 to drop onto jig 46 which holds a dropped boot by its rim 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5-8, a second pneumatic cylinder 47 mounted on support plate 36 reciprocates a rack gear 48 to drive pickup wheel 49. As is particularly shown in FIG. 5, wheel 49 has an axle 50 journalled in a frame member 51 and having gear 52 mounted on it to be engaged by rack 48 which is held in engagement by roller 53. A central member 54 is fixed to axle 50 and rotates with it on each stroke of cylinder 47.

Central member 54 has a flange 55 at one end which contains two ratchet notches 56 spaced 180 apart. A

spring activated detent 57 mounted on a large diameter drive disk 58 rotates easily out of one of the ratchet notches 56 on forward motion of the rack 48. Rods or other linkages 59, shown in section in FIGS. 6 and 7, connect drive disk 58 to pickup wheel 49. Thus on the forward stroke of rack 48 central member 54 rotates 180 while pickup wheel 49 and drive disk 58 remain at rest. Compression spring 69 behind cap 68 urges drive disk 58 against frame member 51 to prevent its free rotation.

Central member 54 has an eliptical cam 60 formed adjacent to pickup wheel 49. Rotation of this cam 60 while pickup wheel 49 remains at rest extends and retracts the boot pickup plungers 61 by means of rollers 62 fixed to plungers 61 which ride on cam 60. Plungers 61 are slidably mounted in oppositely disposed arms 63 and held inward by tension springs 64 or the like. On the extension and retraction of the downward facing plunger 61, it enters the ignition boot 20 in jig 46 and then raises it upward.

On the return stroke of rack 48, detent 57 is engaged by the shoulder of a ratchet notch 56 to rotate disk 58 and pickup wheel 49. As shown in FIG. 8, as pickup wheel 49 rotates 180, it carries a boot 20 upward. The plungers 61 have easily rotated tops 66 which actually enter and hold the boots 20. A plate 67 rubs on the enlarged portion 21 of each boot 20 until its projection 23 faces in the direction of rotation of wheel 49 and slides on plate 67. This leaves each boot 20 with its projection 23 facing rearwardly when it is carried to the top of wheel 49. On the subsequent reciprocation of cylinder 47, the uppermost plunger 61 is raised and a split nest 70, shown in FIG. 1, closes over the boot 20 thereon.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 13, and 14, a split nest 70 has jaws 71 and 72 held apart by a compression spring 73. The split nest 70 is mounted on a carriage 74 having the front and rear support rollers 75 and 76 project therefrom. The carriage 74 is shown greatly simplified to more clearly show the main and novel elements of this device. A nest closing cam 77 is slidably mounted on carriage 74. Rollers 78 and 79 mounted on the jaws 71 and 72 are forced together by forward motion of cam 77 to close the nest. The front portion 100 of cam 77 tapers rearwardly to urge the rollers 78 and 79 together. The rear portion 94 of cam 77 does not taper to lock nest 70 in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 14, the frame members 80 have grooved tracks 81 to receive the rollers 75 and 76.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9-12, frame members 80 have a vertical mount 81 to which a third pneumatic cylinder 82 is pivotally attached. Cylinder 82 projects its end plate 83 forward as shown in FIG. 9. Plate 83 has a projection 84 extending forward from it. Fixed below projection 84 is a transverse bar 85 carrying the rollers 86 which roll forward on the frame members 80.

A slide 87 urged forward by a spring 88 is fixed below projection 84 and has a front end 89 which eventually engages stop 90 as shown in FIG. 10. Further forward motion of cylinder 82 compresses spring 88 as stop 90 holds end 89 of slide 87. As the forward motion continues, the rollers 86 raise end 89 to clear stop 90. The forward motion, with spring 88 compressed, continues as shown in FIG. 12 with end 89 riding on stop 90.

Linkage 91 pivotally connects the slide 87 to split nest carriage 74 and linkage 92 connects the projection 84 to the split nest closing cam 77. These linkages are greatly simplified to show more clearly the operation of the device. Thus forward motion of the cylinder 82 to the position of FIG. 10 moves carriage 74 forward reach the position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 14 in the sloping portion 101 of tracks 81. The continued forward movement of the cylinder 82 shown in FIGS. 10 to 11 moves cam 77 forward to close the nest and grasp a boot 20 in its jaws 71 and 72. The closed nest 70 and its carriage 74 are raised upward to have the rollers and 76 assume the positions shown in solid lines in FIG. 14 in the upper horizontal track 102. The parallel rear surfaces 94 of the cam 77 holds the nest 70 closed.

Referring again to FIG. 1, as the nest 70 rides forward carrying a boot 20 in it, a chain conveyor 95 has clamps 96 which secure lengths of ignition wire 24 in them. One length 24 is positioned in front of the forward moving nest 70 which thrusts a boot 20 over the end of an ignition wire 24. As shown in FIG. 14, a spring detent 97 holds a roller 75 in a forward position so that retraction of cylinder 82 will first pull back cam 77 to open the split nest 70. Cylinder 82 completes its retraction to start another cycle.

The sequence of events of this device is programmed by any conventional means such as a timer or the like. Micro switches may be used to sense the completion of one sequence of events to initiate the next as is well known in the art.

FIG. 15 shows an ignition boot 20 assembled on a length of ignition wire 24 by the device of this invention. The boot 20 is later pulled over the plug contact 99.

While this invention has been shown in the best form known, it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary and that modifications may be made.

I claim:

1. A device to hopper and assemble ignition boots on ignition wires comprising, in combination, two parallel downward sloping counter rotating rollers, said rollers containing circumferential grooves at their lower ends; means cascading boots onto the upper ends of said rollers, said rollers holding ignition boots therebetween to slide down said rollers; a rotating wheel with projections disposed above said rollers knocking double tiered and improperly positioned boots from said rollers; an escapement disposed along said rollers below said wheel, said escapement releasing single boots to continue sliding down said rollers; a jig below the circumferential grooves in said rollers, said grooves dropping a boot therebetween onto said jig; a pickup wheel disposed over said rollers and said jig, said pickup wheel having radial plungers mounted thereon; means reciprocating said plungers to enter a boot in said jig and lift a boot therefrom, said means reciprocating said plungers rotating said pickup wheel through to hold a boot lifted from said jig above said pickup wheel on one 'of said plungers; a split nest having two jaws disposed above said pickup wheel; conveyor means holding an ignition wire behind said split nest; and means closing said split nest about a boot held above said pickup wheel, sliding said split nest containing a boot rearward forcing the boot over an ignition wire held by said conveyor means, and opening and withdrawing.

said nest from the boot forced over the ignition wire.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pickup wheel has an axle, a gear mounted on said axle, a central member fixed to said axle and having a flange at one end and an eliptical cam at the other end, a disk mounted to rotate on said axle adjacent to said flange, rachet means enabling said flange to drive said disk in one direction only, arms on said pickup wheel, said pickup wheel being rotatably mounted on said axle adjacent to said eliptical cam, rollers mounted on said radial plungers, said radial plungers being slidably mounted on said arms, said rollers riding on said eliptical cam, and means connecting said disk to said pickup wheel, said means reciprocating said plungers of said pickup wheel and rotating said pickup wheel through 180 comprising a rack engaging said gear, and a cylinder reciprocating said rack so that rotation of said gear in one direction rotates only said central member causing said cam to extend and retract said plungers and so that rotation of said gear in the other direction causes said rachet means to rotate said disk and thereby said pickup wheel with said central member through 180.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said means closing, sliding, opening, and withdrawing said split nest comprises a pivotally mounted cylinder extending downward at an angle, a projection urged forward by said cylinder, frame members having horizontal upper surfaces and stops projecting upward therefrom, rollers on said projection riding on said upper surfaces, a slide mounted on said projection having an end engaging said stops, vertically mounted rollers on said split nest, a nest closing cam slidably mounted on said split nest and disposed about said vertically mounted rollers, said nest closing cam having a rearwardly tapering portion, first linkage means connecting said nest closing cam to said projection, and second linkage means connecting said split nest to said slide so that initial extension of said pivotally mounted cylinder causes the end of said slide to engage said stops restraining said slide as said projection continues moving forward moving said nest closing cam forward on said split nest closing said split nest by means of said rearwardly tapering portion forcing said vertically mounted rollers together, further extension of said pivotally mounted cylinder moves said rollers on said projection towards said stops lifting said projection over said stops to move the closed split nest toward an ignition wire, and retraction of said pivotally mounted cylinder opens and retracts said split nest.

4. In a device to hopper and assemble ignition boots on ignition wires, said boots each having an enlarged portion with an open and a closed end, an extension projecting at right angles from the closed end of said enlarged portion, and a rim around the open end of said enlarged portion, said device having a bin, downward sloping counter rotating parallel rollers having upper ends extending over said bin, a conveyor cascading ignition boots over the upper ends of said rollers, said rollers being spaced apart to hold ignition boots therebetween by the rims of said ignition boots so that said boots so held by said rollers slide down said rollers, a jig to receive an ignition boot disposed below the lower ends of said rollers, said rollers containing circumferential grooves disposed over said jig to release and drop boots sliding downward on said rollers onto said jig,

and means removing ignition boots from said jig. 

1. A device to hopper and assemble ignition boots on ignition wires comprising, in combination, two parallel downward sloping counter rotating rollers, said rollers containing circumferential grooves at their lower ends; means cascading boots onto the upper ends of said rollers, said rollers holding ignition boots therebetween to slide down said rollers; a rotating wheel with projections disposed above said rollers knocking double tiered and improperly positioned boots from said rollers; an escapement disposed along said rollers below said wheel, said escapement releasing single boots to continue sliding down said rollers; a jig below the circumferential grooves in said rollers, said grooves dropping a boot therebetween onto said jig; a pickup wheel disposed over said rollers and said jig, said pickup wheel having radial plungers mounted thereon; means reciprocating said plungers to enter a boot in said jig and lift a boot therefrom, said means reciprocating said plungers rotating said pickup wheel through 180* to hold a boot lifted from said jig above said pickup wheel on one of said plungers; a split nest having two jaws disposed above said pickup wheel; conveyor means holding an ignition wire behind said split nest; and means closing said split nest about a boot held above said pickup wheel, sliding said split nest containing a boot rearward forcing the boot over an ignition wire held by said conveyor means, and opening and withdrawing said nest from the boot forced over the ignition wire.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said pickup wheel has an axle, a gear mounted on said axle, a central member fixed to said axle and having a flange at one end and an eliptical cam at the other end, a disk mounted to rotate on said axle adjacent to said flange, rachet means enabling said flange to drive said disk in one direction only, arms on said pickup wheel, said pickup wheel being rotatably mounted on said axle adjacent to said eliptical cam, rollers mounted on said radial plungers, said radial plungers being slidably mounted on said arms, said rollers riding on said eliptical cam, and means connecting said disk to said pickup wheel, said means reciprocating said plungers of said pickup wheel and rotating said pickup wheel through 180* comprising a rack engaging said gear, and a cylinder reciprocating said rack so that rotation of said gear in one direction rotates only said central member causing said cam to extend and retract said plungers and so that rotation of said gear in the other direction causes said rachet means to rotate said disk and thereby said pickup wheel with said central member through 180*.
 3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said means closing, sliding, opening, and withdrawing said split nest comprises a pivotally mounted cylinder extending downward at an angle, a projection urged forward by said cylinder, frame members having horizontal upper surfaces And stops projecting upward therefrom, rollers on said projection riding on said upper surfaces, a slide mounted on said projection having an end engaging said stops, vertically mounted rollers on said split nest, a nest closing cam slidably mounted on said split nest and disposed about said vertically mounted rollers, said nest closing cam having a rearwardly tapering portion, first linkage means connecting said nest closing cam to said projection, and second linkage means connecting said split nest to said slide so that initial extension of said pivotally mounted cylinder causes the end of said slide to engage said stops restraining said slide as said projection continues moving forward moving said nest closing cam forward on said split nest closing said split nest by means of said rearwardly tapering portion forcing said vertically mounted rollers together, further extension of said pivotally mounted cylinder moves said rollers on said projection towards said stops lifting said projection over said stops to move the closed split nest toward an ignition wire, and retraction of said pivotally mounted cylinder opens and retracts said split nest.
 4. In a device to hopper and assemble ignition boots on ignition wires, said boots each having an enlarged portion with an open and a closed end, an extension projecting at right angles from the closed end of said enlarged portion, and a rim around the open end of said enlarged portion, said device having a bin, downward sloping counter rotating parallel rollers having upper ends extending over said bin, a conveyor cascading ignition boots over the upper ends of said rollers, said rollers being spaced apart to hold ignition boots therebetween by the rims of said ignition boots so that said boots so held by said rollers slide down said rollers, a jig to receive an ignition boot disposed below the lower ends of said rollers, said rollers containing circumferential grooves disposed over said jig to release and drop boots sliding downward on said rollers onto said jig, and means removing ignition boots from said jig. 